Coronaro

Coronaro , family of Italian musicians, all brothers:

(1) Antonio Coronaro , organist, teacher, and composer; b. Vicenza, June 29, 1851; d. there, March 24, 1933. He was trained in Vicenza, where he served as organist at the Cathedral from 1885 until his death. His first opera, Seila (Vicenza, Jan. 18, 1880), was well received. He also wrote the operas La maliarda (Vicenza, Carnival 1884), Ilfalco di Calabria (Vicenza, Jan. 15, 1903), Edward, and Olinta e Simone. Among his other works were piano pieces, sacred music, and songs.

(2) Gaetano Coronaro , conductor, pedagogue, and composer; b. Vicenza, Dec. 18, 1852; d. Milan, April 5, 1908. Following initial training in Vicenza, he pursued his studies with Faccio at the Milan Cons. (1871–73). His graduation piece, the eclogue Un tramonto (Aug. 8, 1873), was awarded the Giovannina Lucca prize and subsequently was heard with success in many other music centers. After further studies abroad, he settled in Milan in 1876. In 1879 he became a teacher at the Cons., where he was made a prof. of composition in 1894. He also conducted at La Scala. Coronaro wrote five operas, but only the first, La Creole (Bologna, Nov. 27, 1878), attained real success. His other operas were II malacarne (Brescia, Jan. 20, 1894), Un curioso accidente (Turin, Nov. 11, 1903), Enoch Arden (1905), and La signora di Challant. He also composed orch. pieces, sacred works, and chamber music.

Bibliography

E. Oddone, G. C (Rome, 1922).

(3) Gellio (Benevenuto) Coronaro , pianist, conductor, and composer; b. Vicenza, Nov. 30, 1863; d. Milan, July 26, 1916. He made his debut as a pianist at age 8, and was only 13 when he became a theater conductor in Marosteca. At 19, he entered the Bologna Cons, and studied with Busi, Parisini, and Mancinelli, graduating with a prize for his first opera, Jolanda, which was premiered there on June 24, 1883. His next opera, Lafesta a marina, won 1st prize in the Sonzogno competition and was successfully premiered in Venice on March 21, 1893. His other stage works included Minestrone napoletano (Messina, 1893), Claudia (Milan, Nov. 5, 1895), and Bertoldo (Milan, March 2, 1910). Among his other works were chamber music, sacred pieces, and songs.

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire